- Lesson 12 in the Connect360 unit “Sacred Life: God’s Plan for Us” focuses on Romans 12:1-2.
There is a direct and beautiful connection for God’s children between salvation and sanctification. As image bearers called to mirror our Creator in holiness, the first step in the act of our sanctification begins at the moment of salvation.
The primary meaning of sanctification is to consecrate or set something apart. In the act of salvation, God creates life where there was previously only death. God’s act of our spiritual salvation is the process through which we become set apart for a new purpose—not a purpose of our own making or schemes, but a purpose that ultimately finds its completion once we are conformed to the image of Christ himself (Romans 8:29).
This sanctification that occurs through salvation is what Paul was talking about when he stated in 1 Corinthians 6:11, “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
Notice the passive uses of the phrases to indicate this was something that already had occurred—Paul was referring to those who were formally dead in their sin but, because of God’s salvation (were washed), have a separateness fundamentally different from who or what they were previously (You were sanctified, you were justified).
From this perspective, the phrase “sanctity of human life” could be considered more descriptive than declarative when discussing a believer in Christ. For those who are made alive in God, we are set apart—sanctified—and live according to a new purpose and priorities.
The process of sanctification does not culminate at the moment of salvation, but it certainly must start there. The Bible tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, salvation is freely offered to all who would put their trust in Christ Jesus. Anyone who repents and places their trust in Jesus for their salvation is immediately and irreversible set apart (sanctified) and enjoys a new life in Christ.
Sanctification is a status gifted by God. At salvation, God makes that person sanctified. But that is not the only component to the concept of sanctification. Rather, sanctification presents a beautiful paradox. It is both an immediate gift and an ongoing journey.
At the moment of salvation, a believer is sanctified, set apart, and made holy through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This instant sanctification is a profound, transformative act of God’s grace, marking the believer as redeemed and righteous in his sight.
However, the Bible also teaches that sanctification is an ongoing process in the life of a believer. It is not just a single event but a continuous journey of spiritual growth and maturity. This process is beautifully illustrated in verses like 2 Corinthians 3:18, which speaks of believers being transformed into the image of Christ “from glory to glory.”
This ongoing sanctification is a collaborative effort between the believer and God, where the believer is actively involved in pursuing holiness, guided and empowered by the Spirit. In this way, the immediate sanctification at salvation and the progressive sanctification throughout a believer’s life are intricately connected, showcasing the dynamic and evolving nature of the Christian walk.
By Katie Frugé, director for the Center for Cultural Engagement and the Christian Life Commission of Texas Baptists.
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